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How to use LED lights replace compact fluorescent lamp

Before you replace CFL, You must know that what kind CFL you are using. Buy 120V led compact fluorescent replacement, Buy 230V led compact fluorescent replacement

About CFL: A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also known as a compact fluorescent light or energy saving light (or less commonly as a compact fluorescent tube), is a type of fluorescent lamp. Many CFLs are designed to replace an incandescent lamp and can fit into most existing light fixtures formerly used for incandescent bulbs.

The replacement bulb calculation from incandescent bulb to CFL was quite easy. The chart was clear:
25W = 4W
40W = 9W
60 W = 13W
75W = 17W
100W = 23/27W

Compared to general service incandescent lamps giving the same amount of visible light, CFLs use less power and have a longer rated life. In the United States, a CFL has a higher purchase price than an incandescent lamp, but can save over 30 US$ in electricity costs over the lamp's life time.Like all fluorescent lamps, CFLs contain mercury, which complicates their disposal.

CFLs radiate a different light spectrum from that of incandescent lamps. Improved phosphor formulations have improved the subjective color of the light emitted by CFLs such that some sources rate the best 'soft white' CFLs as subjectively similar in color to standard incandescent lamps.

CFL Parts:
There are two main parts in a CFL: the gas-filled tube (also called bulb or burner) and the magnetic or electronic ballast. An electrical current from the ballast flows through the gas (mercury vapor), causing it to emit ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light then excites a phosphor coating on the inside of the tube. This coating emits visible light.


An electronic ballast and permanently attached lamp tube in an integrated compact fluorescent lamp.There are different standard shapes of tubes: single-turn double helix, double-turn, triple-turn, quad-turn, circular, and butterfly.

Electronic ballasts contain a small circuit board with rectifiers, a filter capacitor and usually two switching transistors connected as a high-frequency resonant series DC to AC inverter. The resulting high frequency, around 40 kHz or higher, is applied to the lamp tube. Since the resonant converter tends to stabilize lamp current (and light produced) over a range of input voltages, standard CFLs do not respond well in dimming applications and special lamps are required for dimming service. CFLs that flicker when they start have magnetic ballasts; CFLs with electronic ballasts are now much more common.

Integrated CFLs
Integrated lamps combine a tube, an electronic ballast and either an Edison screw or a bayonet fitting in a single unit. These lamps allow consumers to replace incandescent lamps easily with CFLs.

Integrated CFLs work well in many standard incandescent light fixtures, reducing the cost of converting to fluorescent.


Non-integrated bi-pin double-turn compact fluorescent lamp
Non-integrated electronic ballast for compact fluorescent lamps Non-integrated CFLs
Non-integrated CFLs have the ballast permanently installed in the luminaire, and only the lamp bulb is usually changed at its end of life. Since the ballasts are placed in the light fixture they are larger and last longer compared to the integrated ones, and they don't need to be replaced when the bulb reaches its end-of-life. Non-integrated CFL housings can be both more expensive and sophisticated.

There are two types of tubes: a bi-pin tube designed for a conventional ballast, and a quad-pin tube designed for an electronic ballast or a conventional ballast with an external starter.

A bi-pin tube contains an integrated starter which obviates the need for external heating pins but causes incompatibility with electronic ballasts.

How to use LED replace CFL:

For the Integrated CFLs, You just plug in LED bulbs.

For the Non-integrated electronic ballast CFLs, If it is electronic ballasts, You must remove the ballasts and then plug in the LED replacement bulb. Otherwise, The LED bulb will be fault. But if it is magnetic ballast (means that with starter), You must remove starter, You can remove ballast either not remove ballast, But if you remove ballast, The efficiency will be more better and saving energy.

How to choose LED bulbs

The beam angle is very important< style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; color: black"> when you choose LED light bulbs, The angle can be 15 degree, 30 degree, 45 degree, 60 degree. The lumens will be less for wide beam angle LED light bulbs.

How to calculate the lumens? If it output 15~20 degree beam and cool white, For multiple white LEDs,  It is about 2~2.5 lumens each piece LED (note that the lumens will be less for wide beam angle LED light bulbs). For high power LED, It is about 40~60 lumens each watt. Please note that the lumens for warm white will be less than cool white. For example, It is about 1.5 lumens each piece LED.

White LED Color Temperature Options (in Kelvin) : Warm white  3000K, Pure white 5500K, Cool white 8000K. Viewing angle options: Narrow angle 15~20 degree, Medium  angle 40~60 degree, Wide angle 90~100 degree.

High power LED bulbs compare with multiple white LED bulbs, The cost of high power LED will higher than multiple white LED, The efficiency of multiple white LED bulb will better than high power LED bulb. If you just like the light output and price, Please choose our multiple white led bulbs. But please note that the Life and Lumen Maintenance of high power led bulbs are better than multiple white led bulbs.

If you still do not understand, Please contact your local Electrical Contractor service. An electrical contractor includes all aspects of renovation and new construction as it relates to the electrical system. This may include rewiring, modifying existing wiring, upgrading electrical systems or designing electrical systems for new buildings and construction

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